« Pro-Life Feminism | Main | Catholic Digital Art »
July 20, 2006
Colbert, Redux
"Using cant to transcend cant..." (From Kevin Jones in the comments box)
The subject of Stephen Colbert and faith is getting noted more and more frequently.
Mormon2Catholic notes his reciting the Nicene Creed on the show
In June, Colbert took on Bart Ehrman and had him near-speechless a couple of times.
And then, there's the incredible amazing Colbert liturgical dance, (originally part of the Amy Sedaris show Strangers with Candy) blogged by many a couple of months ago, but I could never get it to embed here...grrr. But do watch it. I think I was going to title my post "We hate liturgical dance...unless Stephen Colbert is doing it."
He did his show on Ash Wednesday with ashes on his forehead. Photo here, in another context.
The question with Colbert, as unpacked in the Althouse discussions is...what are the layers of this persona? Colbert is, by his own admission, a practicing Catholic who's open and happy about his faith. The Colbert character - a play on Bill O'Reilly and other cable-type talk show guys - is a little different - a blowhard, arrogant know-it-all who at once makes us a little hostile but at the same time speaks our mind for us. The Ehrman interview expresses this pretty well. I've watched bits and pieces of his show, but I think I need to become a regular - I watched most of one show with David last week, and found it borderline brilliant.
Oh. And someone tell him we're talking about him. (Even if no one's said anything yet.) And someone tell me how to send him a copy of my Kids' Book of Saints. Seriously.
Posted by Amy Welborn | Permalink
Comments
I hadn't even HEARD of Colbert three months ago, and now I never miss his show. He interviewed a college prof on embryonic stem cells and cloning earlier in the week and asked questions that I have only dreamt of people asking these scientists! (I commented on it the next day at my blog.)
I'm a fan, even if he's more to the Left of me. Who cares? He's funny and there is a whole lot of Catholic packed into his show.
Of course, I frequently watch with Hubby and comment, "He's SUCH a GEEK!"
Posted by: Christine the Soccer Mom at Jul 20, 2006 2:00:05 PM
His evisceration of Bush and the media was a stroke of genius!
Posted by: Morning's Minion at Jul 20, 2006 2:06:32 PM
Three nights ago (watching a rerun), I got mad at Colbert because he took Jesus' name in vain, which I thought was pandering to his "base."
The following night (watching another rerun), I could have kissed him because he stood up for the Catholic position on ESCR, totally confusing his audience, against some author who was arguing that embryos are the same thing as cast-off skin cells. (Stephen's retort: "Are you saying that, if I rub my arm real hard, loosening a lot of skin cells, in a few weeks there will be BABIES all over my arm?")
The beauty of it is, his audience doesn't know whether he's being ironic or sincere. (Sometimes I have the same problem with Colbert.)
The South Park guys have gotten away with dealing with religion and life issues, too, to a mixed extent, but they're much more ambivalent about religion.
Posted by: Robin at Jul 20, 2006 2:09:56 PM
his liturgical dance is really funny, what a hoot, thanks for posting that Amy!!! :-)
Posted by: dave at Jul 20, 2006 2:10:51 PM
I love the guy! Another hysterical interview in that archive is Caitlin Flannagan.
My kids have been cracking up over that liturgical dance video. My 11yo said, "Dancing? In Church?"
:-)
Nicole
Posted by: nicole at Jul 20, 2006 2:13:20 PM
I see a very different Colbert than my proactively anti-religion roommates. The three of us watch Stewart and Colbert every night. Colbert to me seems to be using his O'Reilly-esque persona to sometimes brilliantly mock the ridiculousness of the media-right, but sometimes to give us his actual views on things. Sometimes, I don't even think his audience gets it. His recitation of the Nicene Creed, for example, certainly was not entirely in jest. Colbert most certainly is a religious man, and when he 'nails' his guests, sometimes the (real) joke is on us.
Posted by: Nate Metzger at Jul 20, 2006 2:14:32 PM
My favorite catholic Colbert moment was during an interview w/Maureen Dowd, she made some crack about them both being Catholic and therefore anti-pleasure. He snapped back [paraphrasing] "my parents had 11 kids, don't tell me they were anti-pleasure!"
Hear Hear!
Posted by: kcl at Jul 20, 2006 2:21:17 PM
I saw his embryonic stem cell research interview the other day. He stopped just short of completely destroying the pro-embryonic research guy's arguments.
For example, the guest was trying to say that embryos were the same as skin cells. Colbert then asked if that meant if he didn't wash his arm for a long time, he would grow babies on his arm.
Additionally, the guy claimed that embryos were invisible and if he had some in his coffee mug and sneezed, they would float in the air and you might inadvertantly swallow one (I know, strange argument). He argued that that would be cannibalism, which would be a worse crime. So Colbert then asked something to the effect of, "So are you saying that we unknowing inhale embryos without knowing it?" The guy didn't know what to say.
Posted by: Mike at Jul 20, 2006 2:28:23 PM
The Dowd interview is on YouTube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-45vTPYGn_w&search=colbert%20maureen%20dowd
The quip about being Catholic comes in at 1:19.
Posted by: Jason at Jul 20, 2006 2:30:39 PM
Colbert's interview with Sam "The End of Faith" Harris pretty effectively skewers Harris' cliche-based invective.
Colbert is using cant to transcend cant. I'll take him over Sean Hannity any day.
Posted by: Kevin Jones at Jul 20, 2006 2:39:40 PM
There's something unseemly (at least to me) about trying to ascertain the boundaries of Colbert's faith. It seems an exercise that is designed to label him—to put him into a box, so that everything else he says can be viewed through the lens of him as a liberal/conservative Catholic. I for one like the ambiguity.
Posted by: Mike at Jul 20, 2006 3:14:58 PM
I tend to agree with Mike. On the other hand, this interview with Terry Gross is pretty revealing about his beliefs:
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4464017
I think he is hilarious and I even saw the "Law and Order: Criminal Intent" on which he played something like a maniacal stamp collector.
Posted by: ATP at Jul 20, 2006 3:30:26 PM
Don't miss this interview in the Onion with Colbert and Daily Show veteran Mo Rocca quipping about their shared Catholicism:
http://www.avclub.com/content/node/22599
Onion: You still go to church?
Stephen Colbert: Uh, yeah. One True Bride Of Christ. [Laughter.]
Mo Rocca: Maybe you've heard of it.
SC: Founded by this guy named Jesus! [Laughter.] The gates of hell shall not prevail against it. It's in The Bible, read it.
Posted by: Chris Floyd at Jul 20, 2006 4:11:32 PM
Let's not forget Colbert's former Daily Show segment: "This Week in God." Best fake religion coverage I've ever seen. :-)
Posted by: Liz at Jul 20, 2006 4:24:41 PM
I agree with a previous commenter who took offense at Colbert's using the Lord's name in vain. I have heard him say "G_ _ d_ _ _" more than once. Also, in the Stangers With Candy movie, his character is a science teacher who is attempting to teach the creation theory. The character pompously quotes Bible verses in an obvious mocking of anyone who believes in intelligent design. A crucifix is also seen hanging on the outside of his classroom door.
That really made me cringe.
I know nobody's perfect, but these kinds of things would never have led me to conclude that Colbert was a Christian.
Posted by: texanne at Jul 20, 2006 4:30:47 PM
Texanne,
I find his poking fun at religious folks funny in a self deprecating kind of way. I also cringe sometimes, but even when I disagree, I have to laugh, because his caricatures usually have a grain of truth. I saw him interviewing a politician once about homosexuality, and asked something like, "Should homosexuals be allowed to go to public bathrooms" or something like that. Behind that I assumed was an idea that the Christian opposition to homosexuality is irrational and bigoted, like racism. But it's still funny to me, because we DO have a tendency to treat homosexuality like the end all be all of society's problems.
He admits he's not a particularly religious guy. He's a typical cultural Catholic, although he seems sincere. I guess we should take that for what it's worth. It could be worse; he could be a bitter secularist. Maybe he will come around fully some day.
Posted by: Jason at Jul 20, 2006 4:44:06 PM
I don't see where this is a valid argument at all:
"He admits he's not a particularly religious guy. He's a typical cultural Catholic, although he seems sincere. "
He's not playing at being a believer--his work and interviews show that there is a depth of belief. Can he be both a serious believer and someone who has fun with his faith? I'd say yes. Does he need to wear his beliefs out on his sleeve to become the next Catholic Celebrity? No, I think he's a better evangelizer from the margins.
If SC does nothing else, he shows that faith is a normal thing to embrace--that the smart, funny guy can also believe in God.
For that, I say get the beatification process rolling now...
Posted by: MercyMe at Jul 20, 2006 5:11:28 PM
My favorite Colbert-ism that I have shameless taken on as my own:
Atheism: that religion entirely devoted to one's own sense of superiority
Posted by: ambrose at Jul 20, 2006 5:16:44 PM
MercyMe,
The point about not being religious is his, not mine. From the NPR interview linked above:
While I'm not a particularly religious person, I do go to Church...
He also admits that he's comfortable disagreeing with the Church:
I don't believe that I can't disagree with my Church, and I'll leave it at that.
I think orthodoxy is an important point before we raise someone to the honors of the altar.
I'm not saying he's eeeevil or should be shunned. Just the opposite. It's refreshing to see someone who's not ashamed to say he goes to Church. But, just because someone goes to Church doesn't make them a Saint or a role model. Take him for what it's worth. He's like a lot of Americans who go to Church but wouldn't define themselves by their obedience to their faith. It's a start, and like I said, hopefully he'll come to see the Church as something more.
Posted by: Jason at Jul 20, 2006 5:32:02 PM
My husband and I love his character on the Colbert Report. It's great satire. He's very clever and quick. As for his religiosity (is that a word?), I think he has fun with his faith. He could have great faith and still make jokes about it. Happy are those who laugh at themselves.
Posted by: jennifer at Jul 20, 2006 7:33:44 PM
So, who would be a Strongly Orthodox counterpart to Steven Colbert, and could he or she ever make it on EWTN, let alone regular television? How would his or her comedy routines differ?
I myself think Dog the Bounty Hunter is the most Christian show I've seen.
Posted by: Kevin Jones at Jul 20, 2006 8:45:56 PM
SC isn't Catholic ENOUGH for you, Jason?
The man:
-Served as the catechist for his child
-Goes to church regularly
-Recites the Creed, quotes scripture and sports a cross of ashes on Ash Wednesday
I don't think he's just reveling in the culture of Catholicism, I think there is something actually there, something that is perhaps missed by others taking his "orthodox temperature."
I know people who are turned off by the title of being "religious" even when they are active churchgoers who show their faith in how they live. Maybe it's because some pounce on "religiosity" and measure that against their own ideas of what being a religious person means to them.
SC makes a mockery of those who tout (false) sincerity and who love truthiness over the truth each night on his show. I have to think that it is because he holds sincerity and the truth and true religious sentiment with more esteem than those pundits who play at it for money. Watch the 60 Minutes interview with SC and it speaks a lot to who he SC is and what he values.
Posted by: MercyMe at Jul 20, 2006 9:32:28 PM
He seems like a complex guy. He probably does have liberal positions on homosexuality and birth control (although it's interesting that he told Terry Gross to "presume away" rather than explicitly confirming that he had liberal views on the latter), but he clearly is more than a "cultural Catholic." He has appeared in some off-color fare, but so has even Mel Gibson. It will be interesting to how the Catholicism aspect of his public persona develops over the next few years if the show remains a hit.
It's interesting that his former Daily Show colleague Steve Carrell is supposedly also a practicing Catholic. I haven't seen THE 40-YEAR OLD VIRGIN, which I must admit received an O from the USCCB, but many who have seen agree that underneath the filthy jokes the movie was actually supportive of the protagonist's abstinence, which
SPOILER ALERT
he maintained until his wedding night (to a divorcee, I believe - nobody's perfect).
Posted by: James Kabala at Jul 20, 2006 9:52:45 PM
SC isn't Catholic ENOUGH for you, Jason?
The man:
-Served as the catechist for his child
-Goes to church regularly
-Recites the Creed, quotes scripture and sports a cross of ashes on Ash Wednesday
You could say that about millions of contracepting Catholics in America.
It has nothing to do with justifying himself before me. I'm simply stating facts. He doesn't consider himself a very religious person, and he thinks it's ok to disagree with the Church. Doesn't sound to me like someone on fire for Catholic doctrine.
What does that mean? Nothing. If that's who he is, that's who he is. Everyone is at a different stage of their journey. It's none of my business what he believes.
However, that doesn't mean I'm gonna hold him out as a model Catholic layman. He doesn't seem to hold himself out as one, so I wouldn't presume to myself. There was the same rush to anoint "St. Mel" back when "The Passion" came out. It's like we're so starved for religious people in the entertainment industry that we feel the need to venerate anyone who can recite a Hail Mary.
If you like his show, great. I like it myself. But be aware that there may sometimes be more there than just sarcasm and irony. When he mocks pharmacists who refuse to fill contraceptive prescriptions, he may happen to support contraception (at least that's the impression I got from the NPR interview). That's all I'm saying. Let's be happy that he considers himself Catholic and goes to Church; just hold off on the beatification ceremony.
Posted by: Jason at Jul 20, 2006 9:57:13 PM
By the way, when I said he's a "cultural Catholic", I didn't mean he just goes through the motions. It sounds to me like he's genuinely a spiritual man. All I meant that he doesn't seem to believe obedience to the teaching of the Church is the most important thing in life. Not that he doesn't think it's important.
Posted by: Jason at Jul 20, 2006 10:03:42 PM
